Gov. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat, has endorsed the bill, saying the $80 million license fee for a casino will provide critical revenue for the next state budget. But the Democratic-led House has long been hostile to proposals for expanded gambling.

The joint committee will meet at 9 a.m. today for a work session and begin its executive session, which will include a vote on the bill, at 1 p.m.

That will tee up a debate and vote by the full House.

(Ben Leubsdorf can be reached at 369-3307 or bleubsdorf@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @BenLeubsdorf.)